Game 1 Box Score  I  Game 2 Box Score

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State baseball team picked up a pair of victories over Southwest Baptist Saturday afternoon at Rousey Field to open up a weekend MIAA series.
 
The RiverHawks (8-3, 4-2 MIAA) won the first game 6-1 and defeated the Bearcats (3-8, 0-6 MIAA) 2-1 in the second game.

NSU was led by its starting pitching, as both Ryan Helsley and Bobby Sehgal picked up victories on the mound. Helsley recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work, while Sehgal lasted six innings and finished with three K's and no walks. The duo combined to allow just five hits and two runs total in 11 innings.
 
Helsley's 12 K's were the most in a single game by an MIAA pitcher this season, and they were the most in a game by an NSU pitcher since March 31, 2012 (Trevor Walch). Helsley leads the MIAA with 34 strikeouts in 2015.
 
Junior Gabriel Wurth led the RiverHawks at the plate, as he went 2-for-4 in both games.
 
The two teams will meet for the third game of the series at 1 p.m. March 8 at Rousey Field. The series finale will take place beginning at 1 p.m. March 9.

NORTHEASTERN STATE 6, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 1
NSU posted a 5-spot in the fifth inning that proved to be too much for SBU in the series opener. After four scoreless innings to begin the game, the Bearcats got on the board first when Zach Pirrello hit a two-out single up the middle to plate Caleb Sneed. SBU loaded the bases in the fifth but could only get one across when Spencer Blacksher flew out to right field to end the threat.
 
NSU's big frame began when junior Cody Begovich doubled to left center after junior Eric Kirkpatrick struck out swinging. Begovich advanced to third on a wild pitch and tied the game on a single up the middle from senior Jorge Ozuna. A single from sophomore Jared Aschbrenner chased SBU's starting pitcher, and three pitches later the RiverHawks found themselves with a 4-1 advantage.
 
Wurth hit the first pitch he saw to the left center wall to plate Ozuna, and junior Jamie Graeser drove home both Aschbrenner and Wurth on a double to right field. The final run of the inning was scored when sophomore Caleb Hill drove home Graeser.
 
The RiverHawks tacked on an insurance marker in the sixth and stayed on top for the 6-1 victory.
 
Helsley (3-0) struck out 12 batters and conceded just one run on three hits in 5.0 innings. He tossed 100 pitches and only walked three Bearcats. Senior Hayden Walch threw the final two frames and only gave up one hit.
 
Cole Roark (0-3) suffered the loss for SBU. He allowed three runs on four hits in 4.1 innings, despite recording six strikeouts. Matt Dye and Calvin Lovig combined to allow three runs on five hits in the final 1.2 frames.
 
NSU outhit Southwest Baptist 9-4, and SBU's four hits were scattered between four different batters. No errors were committed in the contest.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE 2, SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 1
Sehgal (2-1) tossed a two-hit gem to lead NSU to victory in the second game of the series. The sophomore threw 74 pitches in 6.0 innings and struck out three, while conceding only one run and no walks. Junior Jake Kern threw the final inning and picked up his MIAA-leading fourth save of the season.
 
The RiverHawks got on the board first when a sacrifice fly from senior Preston Cash brought in Wurth. A solo home run in the bottom of the third for sophomore Bryce Davenport would prove to be the game-winning tally. The Bearcats responded with a single run in the fourth on a solo homer from Blacksher, but that would be all they would muster.
 
Wurth and Davenport both finished the contest with two hits. No SBU player had more than one hit as the visitors were outhit 6-3.
 
Tim Collins (1-2) picked up the loss on the mound for Southwest Baptist. He allowed both NSU runs in four innings. He struck out two, walked three and gave up four hits.